She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[sideWing]

They came from Florida! This was the second batch from this specific breeder that I am trying to hatch. The first batch was lost in the post for a couple days, and then a power outage on day 18...none hatched. I thought I would try again and have them shipped express. All air cells were extremely loose some detached totally. So I thought I should let them rest longer. It did get up to 80 in the house in the afternoon, though. Some of the air cells did firm up but I have dark red rings of death on a few and then most of them have a little black floating dot with a red circle around it and no vessels! The yolks look scrambled. So I don't know. Bad luck, I guess. I've re-calibrated the incubators. They are both spot on! I'm going to try some eggs next week from Pennsylvania, from a BYC member. Another member told me she packs great!

I won't give up!!!
Sounds great! And those steaks look delicious!! Enjoy yourself...you deserve it!
I tried quoting yesterday but my post got eaten and I gave up. The chicks are adorable! I'm so happy for you!! Great job!! Yes, only 6! I'm more determined then ever now. I'm getting more eggs next week from a BYC member! They are a 6 hour drive away, so hopefully the post isn't too rough. I spoke to another member that bought eggs from this breeder and she said not 1 detached air cell, so...

(and maybe I'll get a baby or two from these eggs--then wait till spring to hatch my own)!

I remember that last hatch.

80 degrees is no problem at all. Might have just been tough shipping.

for the rest of the hatch. Shipped eggs are always a gamble. I had a no hatch batch last spring too. No fun.

 

[BYC910]

wow again Ruby hope the ones that are growing all hatch . glad you found someone closer to you . you need a good hatch . btw the steaks are pork roast and they are great have two in the fridg. to eat later . Ben loves it so we always do a couple extra for him .

on the hatch

 

[mixedUPturk]

Out of curiosity can everyone tell me the cost of Groc Market eggs in your area, and what backyard eggs are costing? Curious our market here in PA went up to well over $4.50 now, everyone wants my eggs for eating but we are eating and hatching most so I cant share LOL I tell everyone GET YOUR OWN BACKYARD CHICKENS! DOH This is a first year we are actually raising our own meaties CornishX not sure I am sold on it yet LOL They eat and poo and eat and poo = stink I had to lime and add shavings today now its under control! So much rain of late doesnt help! They are growing so fast!

Cost of eggs here is anywhere from 2$-7$! Its insane! "The Chicken Man," (long established egg selling individual in our town) asks 3.50, and hes usually got very competitive prices. Cant sell eggs yet, but i did get my first ever sky blue and olive green eggs, on Monday Glad it looks like everyone had a good holiday! Missed you guys!

 

[kwhites634]

PVC makes great feeder there is another style some where on the DIY thread that uses a 90 in a box that I saw . looked like it would work well too . I'm still using hangers from TSC . I would lube the treads on the cap with something they tend to stick . everything here is still being built and in planning stage . what I want is total outside everything . my first coop is all in side . water feed egg collection Its a pain when It gets muddy .the others will be all outside egg collection already is .

I used a rubber cap on the top of mine...no threads.
My plug for the bottom is just light plastic...another reason for setting the whole thing on the brick.

 

[BYC910]

I was thinking about a 60 watt bulb in a cinder block placed on it's side. Then place the waterer on the block. Anyone tried this?

a heated water won the DIY contest the last go round along with a heated laying box same person check it out

 

[scflock]

a heated water won the DIY contest the last go round along with a heated laying box same person check it out

I've seen different variations using blocks, cookie tins, etc...
What's holding me back is the 8000ft of dropcords running to 7 pens

With all the solar powered lights available now, why can't someone do a solar powered heated waterer?

 

[mixedUPturk]

I've seen different variations using blocks, cookie tins, etc...
What's holding me back is the 8000ft of dropcords running to 7 pens
With all the solar powered lights available now, why can't someone do a solar powered heated waterer?

Say friend: you do that, i bet u win the nex DIY contest

 

[frmboyinthecity]

I agree, just skinning the old ones or single processing. its just easier and less mess n fuss

OMG simple to just google NOT there are a zillion whizang videos!!! I have an old honda push mower motor, wonder if that would work... If u have time can you pinpoint a good video or two LOL

https://www.google.com/search?q=whi...rome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

hmmm army surplus? not sure I ever heard of one of those?

Growing up, we skinned almost all of our birds, even the young ones, because it was so much easier. My grandma would pluck one occasionally, but as everyone knows who's done it, there is a reason automatic pluckers were invented.

There are hundreds of plucker videos out there, some I would never try to replicate and some I don't think are too bad. I have debated trying to make one out of an old lawn motor engine as well. The best part of that would be that an extension cord or a generator wouldn't be necessary. However, you would have the exhaust and getting the plate spinning close to the right RPM's could be difficult. Here is a video of someone using a gas motor powered plucker. It looks like it works pretty well, although the bird he plucks with it might be the skinniest little bird I've ever seen.

 

[scflock]

I'm back from the deep woods this is just a little pay

for Walnut wish you all had been there to help eat all these. slow cooked over fresh hickory with just a little Crown to help get us through the night. My brother and I camp out at our family cemetery in Ark every Labor day and do this for our Family reunion / cleaning

.. some folks might think it a little strange but we know most of the dead folks there . Neighbors and old child hood friends stop by to eat . the little cemetery is all that's left of a two section spread . long sold by a large southern family. Our ancestors fought in the revolutionary war . this one fought in the war civil war . you can see which side .no offense intended by this picture none of us knew who put the flag there . we left it .

It makes me sad that we have gotten to the point that you feel like you have to apoplogize for that picture. I'm not getting into the politics of it, because I see both sides and understand what that flag represents to a lot of people, but the flag in that picture marking a civil war grave does not owe an apology

 

[BYC910]

I used a rubber cap on the top of mine...no threads.
My plug for the bottom is just light plastic...another reason for setting the whole thing on the brick.

was thinking that would be a good ideal on the top . you can use a heavy cap if you sand some out for a loose fit. a drum sander for a drill works great for that if you can find one .then use set screws to hold it in place . been wanting to do some PVC waters always to busy .